After the sweatbox we’ve been in, it’s hard to believe a golf date was recently “froze out” — a weekly stop for the Eastern New York Golf Association. The players were early into their round at Brookhaven Golf Course in Porter Corners when things got dicey.

“We got rained and froze out ... by an unexpected long squall,” Stan Dzek, head of the ENYGA, told me. They canceled mid-morning. But they made it back last week for not one but two stops on the weekly tour. This week they were at Fairways of Halfmoon. Each week the group gets together but could use a few more players. Don’t worry; it’s broken up by handicap and division so everyone gets a fair shake.

The ENYGA is not a mini-tour for guys dreaming of the PGA Tour. It’s a league for guys who are looking for at least a game a week — sometimes more if they are retired — and a chance to experience courses that may be an “oh, I’d like to play that” or “it’s such a hassle to wrangle tee times” unless someone else does it for me.

Last week, the intrepid golfers had Winding Brook in Valatie on Tuesday and back to Brookhaven on Wednesday (75 miles between the two, but at least they don’t have to do it the same day). Bill Williams of Town of Colonie aced No. 3 at Winding Brook with his 5-hybrid. It was the second hole-in-one in ENYGA competition this season.

Advertisement

Formed in 1932 by a group of guys at Battenkill Golf Course, the ENYGA has grown from there, Dzek (pronounced jeck) said. He succeeded Ron Farrigan, who retired three years ago. The current annual membership fee is $30.

“I take pride in being the President and Director of this old established league,” Dzek said.

All members have weekly reserved tee times beginning at 7 a.m. and running until noon. The groupings are divvied up according to handicap, for example “A” is 0-9, “B” is 10-14, “C” is 15-23 and “D” is 24+. And the playing partners are usually formed with their buddies but singles with similar handicaps can be placed with others of their caliber.

The ENYGA plays 24 tournaments a year different courses — “sometimes at private courses with negotiated terms,” Dzek said. Course handicaps are calculated for each event to ensure a level playing field amongst the different skill levels.

There are a number of special events, too. A month ago (June 8), they played the “Lou Torre 2-Man,” named for a longtime leader, at Sycamore CC in Ravena. There’s also a 4-Man Scramble in mid-August at Mohawk River CC and the Harry & Bonnie Clark ABCD Championship Memorial plus dinner and year-end meeting at Fairways of Halfmoon just after Labor Day. Contact Dzek at 518-784-2939 for more information.

Braman’s week

First an ace in national competition and then a win for another national spot — not a bad week for Madison Braman. The rising senior at Shaker High School had a hole-in-one during round three at the Killington Junior Golf Championship at Green Mountain National Golf Course, part of the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA). She aced No. 7 from 113-yards. Braman, 17, shot 78-75-76 to finish 15th in the girls’ division. It was her second ever ace. The first was in August 2012 at the SRCC Women’s Club Championship.

Then on Friday, she shot 75 (3-over) in round one of the NENY PGA Jr. PGA Championship at Town of Colonie. Saturday’s round was washed out so she was declared the winner. She already had a 10-stroke lead and heads back to this national tournament, to be played in Rhode Island in August. Justin Lane of Woodstock shot 69 (3-under) in round one to qualify on the boys side.

Buchanan defends

Loudonville-native Jeb Buchanan defends his NYS Open title next week, July 19-21, at Bethpage Black. Now a pro based in Florida, he is the first player from the Capital Region to win this tournament.

New role

Robert Verhayden, volleyball coach at Sage Colleges, has been appointed the new head men’s golf coach there. He succeeds Ian Pingelski, a former player who coached the Gators for the past year and a half before taking another job. He replaced longtime coach Luke Scala, the head pro at Van Schaick Island Club.

NEWGA

The Burden Lake CC duo of Heather Morrison and Jennifer DiIorio combined to shoot an even-par 72 and won a matching of cards in the Northeastern Women’s Golf Association’s Gail Sykes Better Ball Championship Tuesday, June 28, at Leatherstocking Golf Club.

NYSAM

The field is almost set for the 94th NYS Men’s Amateur Championship, to be played at Mohawk Golf Club August 9-11. Todd Czepiel, an assistant superintendent at Shaker Ridge CC, shot 68 (4-under) at Colonie Golf & CC last week. He as actually six-under with two holes to play but took his foot off the pedal at the end. A total of 16 players qualified. There is expected to be a “last chance” qualifier just before the tournament.

John Craig writes about golf Thursdays in The Saratogian and Troy Record. He may be reached at jcraig@troyrecord.com.

GOLF NOTES: July 14

MECHANICVILLE GOLF COURSE

July 6: Frog Island

Low Gross: Clyde Driggers – 36, Rick Funaro – 37

Low Net: John Herrick – 30, Don Ardziewicz – 30

BRAMAN & LANE WIN JUNIOR TITLES

One of the top junior players in the Capital Area, Madison Braman, is headed back to national competition – without even completing her second round. No one did. It was washed away and round one scores were only used in the 2016 Northeastern New York Section Junior PGA Championship presented by Under Armour and Genesis Networks on Saturday, July 9 at Town of Colonie Golf Course.

The 17-year old from Loudonville and Justin Lane, 16, of Woodstock led after Friday and once tournament officials cancelled Saturday’s try, the two teens qualified for the 41st Junior PGA Championship at Wannamoisett Country Club in Rumford, RI, which will be played August 9-12.

Braman had an 18-hole round of 75 (38-37) for three-over and a 10-stroke victory over Carley Sawyer of Rainbow Lake.

Lane posted a 69 (37-32) for three-under 18-hole total and a two-stroke victory over Jack O’Hara of Loudonville and Teddy Trossett of Cooperstown, who each carded 71. Complete results of all Age Divisions:

The 41st Junior PGA Championship presented by Under Armour and Genesis Networks, is open to one boy and one girl champion from each of the 41 PGA Sections, champions of the eight PGA Junior Series events, select national junior tournaments conducted throughout the year and special invitees who have not reached their 19th birthdays as of the final round of the championship.

Robert Verhayden of Schenectady has just been appointed the new head men’s golf coach at The Sage Colleges. No stranger to Sage, Verhayden is currently serving as the Gators’ men’s volleyball coach. In 2016, he was named the Skyline Conference Men’s Volleyball Coach of the Year after leading Sage to a third place finish in the regular season.

Verhayden replaces Ian Pingelski, a Sage College alumnus who coached the Gators for the past year and a half. He left in January for a full-time position with the Air Export Operations at Trans-Border Global Freight Systems, Inc. in Round Lake. Pingeski replaced longtime golf coach Luke Scala, the head pro at Van Schaick Island Club.

A lifelong golfer, Verhayden began his golfing career a greenskeeper at the Edison Club. A former member at Cobleskill Golf & Country Club, he was the First Flight Men’s Club Champion in both 2008 and 2009.

“I am very thankful to Dani Drews and the Sage administration for the opportunity to lead the golf program at The Sage College,” he said in a statement, adding, “I hope and plan to bring the program back up to being an annual contender for the Skyline Conference championship with hopes of earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

“Golf is a life-long sport that can help with your business, career, demeanor, relationships and good healthy living.”

Director of Athletics and Recreation, Dani Drews said of Verhayden’s appointment: “We are so fortunate to have such a talented coach already on our staff…Bob is a true renaissance man and we are excited to have him take on yet another role at Sage. I know he will do great things with the men’s golf team just as he has with the volleyball program.”

A former women’s head volleyball coach at Fulton-Montgomery Community College for three seasons, he has an extensive background within the sport of volleyball. He concurrently serves as the Girls’ Varsity Volleyball Coach at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons High School in Schenectady, a position he has held since 2009. His 2015 squad went 23-4 overall, were the WAC South champions and qualified for the Class B sectionals as the fourth seeded team, and advanced to the semifinal match, losing to #1-seeded Hudson Falls H.S. He collected his 100th varsity victory on this past fall in volleyball.

An accomplished athlete in his own right, Verhayden was a member of the 1998 Men’s Masters Championship Team as a competitor at the USA Volleyball IREVA Regional. He also garnered a silver medal as a member of the 1995 Men’s Senior Adirondack Team at the Empire State Games.

NEWGA: HARKINS & OPPEDISANO WIN 6-6-6 EVENT

July 8: At Pine Brook Golf Club, Heidi Harkins and Kathryn Oppedisano of Ballston Spa CC shot 75 to win the 6-6-6 tournament in the North East Women’s Golf Association. They won by six over another pair from Ballston Spa CC, Kathy Harkins and Suzie Mansfield.

June 28: The Burden Lake CC duo of Heather Morrison and Jennifer DiIorio combined to shoot an even-par 72 and won a matching of cards in the Northeastern Women’s Golf Association’s Gail Sykes Better Ball Championship Tuesday, June 28, at Leatherstocking Golf Club.

Linda Kolnick and Pam Rees-Palmatier, both of Cobleskill Golf & Country Club, were the overall net champs with a 63.

Former NEWGA champion Susan Kahler and Suzie Mansfield, both from Ballston Spa CC, also shot a 72 to win the low gross crown in the first flight. The Pinehaven CC duo of Diane Fowler and Nan Lanahan took second flight low gross with an 81 while the Wolferts Roost CC team of Carolyn Moore and Susan Reeks grabbed third flight low gross honors with an 88.